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Jan. 22, 1963
L. VAN HESS
3,074,095
COMBINATION DEICER AND WINDSI-IIELD WIPER
BLADE CONSTRUCTION
Filed March 21, 1961
2 Sheets-Sheet 1
LE
INVENTOR.
l/ayq/ Van #9619
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W ?aw “W
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BY
ATTORNEYS
Jan. 22, 1963
L. VAN HESS
COMBINATION DEICER AND WINDSHIELD WIPER v 3,074,096
'
Filed March
21, 1961
BLADE CONSTRUCTION
2 Sheets-I-Sheet 2
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INVENTOR.
lzayo’ i622 ?ees
BY
MEN/"M
'
ATTORNEYS
United States Patent O??ce
3,074,096
Patented Jan. 22, 1963
1
2
3,074,ll96
by the heating element, the ?exible squeegee is surrounded
with thermal energy, thereby preventing the accumula
COMBINATHUN DEICER AND WINDSHIELD
WEPER BLADE CONSTRUQTHON
Lloyd Van Hess, Chicago, Ill., assignor to Plans &
Products, Inc, Chicago, lllt, a corporation of Illinois
Filed Mar. 21, 1961, Ser. No. 97,192
12 Claims. (Cl. 15—25tl.®7)
tion of snow and ice and keeping the wiper or squeegee
?exible and operative.
It is an object of the present invention to provide an
improved windshield wiper blade construction.
Yet another object of the present invention is to pro
vide a deicer construction which is particularly suited for
This invention relates generally to a deicer construc
use with a windshield wiper blade organization adapted
tion for use with a windshield wiper blade operable in an
atmospheric environment in which snow and ice is likely 10 to be operated in atmospheric environmental conditions
including snow and ice accumulations on a windshield
to accumulate on a windshield surface.
surface.
Although automobiles and trucks are generally equipped
A further object of the present invention is to provide
with so-c‘alled defrosters which direct a ?ow of condi
improved combination deicer apparatus and wind
tioned air against the surface of a Windshield, such provi 15 an
shield wiper blade.
sion is not effective in solving the problem of ice and
Yet another object of the present invention is to pro_
snow accumulation on the windshield wiper blade, per
vide an improved heating element arrangement which
se. First of all, such conditioned air is usually directed
can be quickly and conveniently snapped into assembly
against the inside surface of the windshield, whereas the
with a re?ector trough.
snow and ice accumulation occurs on the outside surface 20
A still further object of the present invention is to
of the windshield. Further, even if the accumulation of
provide a heating element having a line connector cur
ice or snow is prevented on the actual windshield sur
rent continuing means associated therewith to facilitate
face, accumulations will occur on the wiper blade, per
connection into the electrical circuitry of an automotive
se, rendering the wiper blade rigid and virtually inoper—
vehicle.
able.
Many other features, advantages and additional ob
The problem of snow and ice accumulation on wind
jects of the present invention will become manifest to
shield wiper blades becomes particularly acute in operat
those versed in the art upon making reference to the
ing an automotive vehicle under adverse road conditions
detailed description which follows and the accompanying
which frequently occur in colder climates where snow
falls or other atmospheric icing conditions exist. Al 30 sheets of drawings in which a preferred structural em
though the driver of a pleasure car may decide not to
bodiment of a deicer apparatus for use with a windshield
wiper blade is shown by way of illustrative example.
On the drawings:
FIGURE 1 is a fragmentary view illustrating the ap
drive such vehicle under adverse operating conditions,
commercial automotive vehicles such as buses and trucks
must necessarily be continued to be operated and con
sequently there is a genuine need for a wiper blade con 35 plication of the present invention to an automotive vehicle
such as a truck utilizing a windshield wiper blade organ
struction which will provide an effective solution of the
ization on the outside surface of a curved windshield
problem of ice and snow accumulation.
and to which has been applied the deicer apparatus of
According to the principles of the present invention,
the
present invention;
a replaceable windshield wiper blade of the type having a
FIGURE 2 is an exploded view showing the re?ector,
metal frame carrying a ?exible squeegee is provided. 40
the heating element and the wiper blade forming the
Preferably, the windshield wiper blade has a wiper or
windsheld wiper blade organization of the present in~
squeegee of the type which is particularly adapted to
vention;
engage and wipe against the curved surface of an auto
FIGURE 3 is an end elevational view of the combina
motive windshield. Thus, in one exemplary form of
tion
deicer apparatus and windshield wiper blade con
45
windshield wiper blade construction, there is provided
a main frame having a lever arm or head by means of
which the Wiper blade may be connected to a wiper ac
tuating arm and the squeegee is supported by a pair of
longitudinally spaced brackets or subframe, thereby in
suring maximum ?exibility of the wiper or squeegee.
In accordance with the present invention, the heating
means is particularly characterized by the utilization of
a sheathed tubular member including an electrical re
sistance wire embedded in a material such as powdered
magnesium oxide, in turn, enclosed within a thin rigid
tube.
struction;
FIGURE 4 is a cross-sectional view illustrating addi
tional details of construction and taken substantially in
the plane of line IV-IV of FIGURE 2;
FIGURE 5 is a cross-sectional view taken substantially
in the plane of line V—V of FIGURE 2;
FIGURE 6 is a fragmentary cross-sectional View taken
substantially on line VI——VI of FIGURE 5;
FIGURE 7 is a fragmentary cross-sectional view with
parts broken away and with parts shown in section il
lustrating ‘additional details of construction of the in
vention;
Further, according to the present invention, a through
FIGURE 8 is a fragmentary bottom plan view of one
shaped re?ector member has a plurality of longitudinally
end of the trough-shaped member with the wiper blade
spaced brackets each including spring arms spaced from
to illustrate additional details of construction
opposite diverging side Walls of the re?ector member and 60 removed
of
the
heating
element; and
forming snap-in sockets sized to be cooperative with the
FIGURE
9
is
a fragmentary exploded view illustrating
tubular heating element. The tubular heating element
is generally U-shaped in overall con?guration, including
two legs ‘coextensive in length with the wiper blade.
Thus, the heating element may be snapped in to assem
bly within the trough. Retainer means are also provided
to connect the trough-shaped re?ector in ?rm assembly
with the frame of the wiper, thereby positioning the
?exible squeegee element in the open side of the trough
in the path of the thermal energy re?ected and radiated
outward-1y. Being ?anked on both longitudinal sides
additional details of construction of the heating means.
As shown on the drawings:
It should be understood that the present invention has
particular utility when applied to all weather vehicles
such as buses and trucks, although the principles of the
present invention are generally applicable to any wind
shield wiper blade construction used on an automotive
vehicle. For purposes of illustration, the invention is
described as being applied to a truck-type automotive
vehicle it) having a windshield 11 which may be shaped
3,074,098
3.
out of a ?at plane to have substantially curved portions,
thereby forming a curved windshield surface 12 engaged
by a pair of windshield wiper blade constructions of the
present invention illustrated generally by the reference
s numeral 13. It will be understood that each of the wind
shield wiper blade constructions 13 is identical and, ac~
oordingly, a description of one of the devices will be
ll
ductor wire 38 may be led to a suitable source of energi
zation through the cowling 39 of the vehicle in the usual
manner.
As shown in FIGURE 2, the exemplary wiper blade
With which the present invention is illustrated takes the
form of a main frame 40 of the channel-shaped con?gura
tion including a body wall 41 and two side walls 42 and
43. At the center section of the main frame 40, the side
walls 42 and 43 each have lug portions shown at 44,
given in detail.
It is contemplated, according to the present invention,
to provide a generally elongated tubular heating element 10 thereby to provide longitudinally spaced shoulders 46
and 47. The lug portions 44 are also apertured to receive
14 which comprises an electrical resistance Wire 16 made
of nichrorne or some other suitable material having good
heating characteristics.
In order to provide radial support for the resistance
wire 16 and in order to evenly dissipate thermal energy
generated upon energization of the resistance wire 16, the
wire 16 is embedded in a quantity of material such as
a pivot pin 48, thereby to pivotally connect a head mem
ber or lever arm 49 which is likewise formed in channel
shape so as to straddle the lug portions 44. The head
member or lever arm l49‘ has a coupling portion 50 by
means of which the wiper blade may quickly and con
veniently be connected to the actuating arm of a wiper
blade actuating mechanism forming part of the operat
ing equipment of the vehicle 10.
At opposite ends of the main frame 40‘, there is pro
tube 18. The ends of the tube 18 are closed by suitable 20
vided a subfrarne 51 and 52, respectively, each connected
means, for example, the end may be pinched as at 19
to the main frame 44} by a corresponding pivot pin 53
Without, of course, short-circuiting the outer tube 18 to
powdered magnesium oxide, indicated at 17, which, in
turn, is contained within an elongated rigid thin-walled
the resistance wire ‘16, or the tube could also be closed
and 54. Each subframe 52 and 51 is, in turn, formed as
by suitable electrically non-conductive disks. In accord
ance with the principles of the present invention, one end
is closed by a pinched portion as at 19, while the opposite
.a channel-shaped member and has retainer lug portions
56 formed at the respective ends thereof for engaging and
retaining a ?exible metal backing strip 57. The ?exible
annular indented recess 21, thereby facilitating insertion
trally of the longitudinal length of the re?ector member
strip 57 is apertured to receive and retain a rubber
end of the heating element 14 has the resistance wire 16
squeegee member 58.
thereof connected to a plug connector 15 suitably in
As is clearly shown in FIGURES 4 and 7, the wall 27
sulated from the outside retainer tube 18. The plug con
nector 15 has a tapered ?nding portion 20 and also an 30 has formed therein an opening 60 which is disposed cen
26. Spaced on opposite sides of the opening 60 is a pair
‘of brackets generally similar \to the brackets 32 already
shown generally at 22 and including a current-continuing
described, but identi?ed herein for better identi?cation
means 23 having socket portions 24, 24 at opposite ends.
The heating element 14 is associated with a general 35 at 61 and 62, respectively. Each bracket 61 and 62 has a
of the plug connector 15 into one end of a line connector 7
body portion 63 fastened in ?rm assembly to the wall 27
and spring arms on opposite sides thereof 64 and 66 bent
speci?cally, it will be noted the re?ector member 26 has
to provide a recessed socket portion 67 and 68, thereby
a bottom wall 27 and side walls 28, 28 which diverge
to cooperate with the heating element 14. Unlike the
generally outwardly away from the bottom wall 27. The
re?ector member 26 also has end walls shown at 29 and 40 other brackets 32, however, the free end of each of the
brackets 61 and 62 at the respective spring arms 64 and
the entire side of the re?ector member 26 opposite the
66 is inwandly bent as at 69 and 70, respectively, thereby
bottom wall 27 is open as at 36).
to underlie the side walls 42 and 43‘ adjacent the shoul
The entire inner side of the wall portions 27, 28 and
ders 46 and 47 for locking the main frame in ?rm as
29 of the re?ector member 26 may be formed to provide
a re?ective surface so that any radiant thermal energy 45 sembly with the re?ector 26. The head member or lever
arm 49 extends through the opening 60, thereby facilitat
impinged thereupon will be re?ected generally outward
ly trough-shaped re?ector member indicated at 26. More
ly of the opening 36.
In accordance with the principles of the present in
vention, the tubular heating element 14 is removably as
sembled in the trough-shaped re?ector 26 by a special at
taching means. Thus, at longitudinally spaced points
along the elongated length of the re?ector trough 26,
there is located a bracket shown at 31 having a body por
tion 32 connected in ?rm assembly to said bottom wall
ing attachment to a windshield wiper actuating mechan
ism.
By virtue of the arrangement provided, the squeegee
58 is positioned in register with the opening 30 in the
path of thermal energy radiated and re?ected out of the
‘opening 30. Because of the alignment of the two legs
'of the heating element 14, the squeegee element is vir—
tually straddled. Although the windshield wiper blade
27, for example, by spot-welding or any other suitable 55 is actually positioned inside of the trough-shaped re?ec
tor 26, it will be noted that the side Walls 28, 28 of the
fastening means. The bracket further includes a spring
re?ector 26 terminate short of the squeegee 58. In other
arm 33 on each side of the body portion 32 and each
Words, the squeegee 58 extends outwardly through the
spring arm 33 extends in spaced adjacency to a corre
opening 30 but is positioned in the path of ?ow of all
sponding diverging side wall 28. Each spring arm 33
has a recessed retaining portion 34 near one end and a 60 thermal energy passing through the opening 30 towards
the surface 12 of the Windshield 11.
shaped end portion 36 which is somewhat reversely bent,
thereby to form with the adjoining wall 28 an entrance
Because the heating element 14 is carried in such a
manner as to position a corresponding leg on opposite
throat, while the recessed portion 34 forms with the ad
sides of the frame assembly, the thermal energy generated
joining wall 28 a snap-in socket. The brackets 31 are
made of a material providing suitable resiliency to the 65 thereby upon energization of the wire 16 will be directed
outwardly through the opening 30. Moreover, any ther
spring arms.
mal energy generated by the heating element 14 which
In order to bring electric current to the heating ele
passes in other directions, will impinge upon the re?ective
nient ‘14, one end wall 29 of the re?ector 26 is apertured
surface formed on the inside Walls of the re?ector mem
to receive a rubber grommet 37 through which passes a
sheathed conductor wire 38. The sheathed conductor 70 ber 26 and thereupon radiate outwardly through the open
ing 30 to surround the squeegee 56 with thermal energy.
wire 38 has on the free end thereof a plug connection
similar to the plug connection 15, shown in FIGURE 9,
By virtue of such arrangement, the formation of ice and
snow accumulations on the windshield wiper blade is sub
and connection is made to the current-continuing means
stantially precluded without serious detriment to the squee
23 by plugging the‘sarn'e into one of the socket ends 24
of ‘the line connector 22. The other ‘end of the con 75 "gee 46. Thus, the squeegee 46 is maintained operative
5
8,074,096
regardless of the severity of the atmospheric environmen
tal conditions and the operator of the vehicle 10 may
proceed with maximum visibility even under adverse driv
ing conditions.
Although minor modi?cations might be suggested by
those versed in the art, it should be understood that I wish
to embody within the scope of the patent warranted here
6
?exibly conform to the curved surface of an adjoining
windshield surface and being directly interposed in the
path of thermal energy radiating outwardly through said
opening for operation despite the adversity of atmospheric
environmental conditions.
4. In a heated windshield wiper organization including
a replaceable ?exible squeegee windshield wiper blade for
on all such modi?cations as reasonably and properly come
a curved windshield and having a main frame and a pair
within the scope of my contribution to the art.
of subframes carried thereby, an elongated tubular heater
I claim as my invention:
10 bent to form two separate legs extending coextensively in
1. For use in a windshield wiper organization operable
in atmospheric environmental conditions including snow
and ice accumulations on the windshield surface, in com
bination, heating means comprising a generally trough
shaped re?ector member having an opening extending
along the length of one side thereof, a bottom wall extend~
ing along the length of the opposite side thereof, and side
walls diverging generally outwardly away from said bot~
tom wall, a plurality of fastening brackets spaced longi
tudinally in said trough of said re?ector member, each
said fastening bracket having a spring arm spaced in~
wardly from an adjoining side wall of said re?ector mem
ber to fonn together with said side wall a snap-in socket,
and a generally tubular heating element removably re
ceived in snap-in assembly in said sockets and positioned 25
inv said trough to distribute thermal energy outwardly
through said opening, a windshield wiper blade in said
re?ector member comprising a frame, some of said
‘bracket members having retaining means connected to
said frame, and a ?exible squeegee substantially coexten
sive in length with said opening and extending through
said opening outwardly of said side walls of said re?ector
member, said windshield wiper being free to ?exibly con
form to the curved surface of an adjoining windshield
surface and being directly interposed in the path of ther
mal energy radiating outwardly through said opening.
2. In a heated windshield wiper organization including
a replaceable ?exible squeegee Windshield wiper blade for
a curved windshield and having a main wiper frame and
a pair of spaced subframes carried thereby, said main
frame having a pivoted lever connected to a windshield
wiper actuating member, an elongated tubular heater at
least coextensive in overall length with said wiper blade,
a re?ector member of trough-shaped con?guration having
re?ective walls diverging outwardly to form an opening
opposite said heater, longitudinally spaced snap fasteners
in said trough together with the walls of the trough re—
movably mounting said heater in said trough, said re
?ective member having a centrally disposed aperture and
retainer means adjacent said aperture for interconnecting 50
said main frame and said re?ector member with the lever
extending through said aperture and with said wiper blade
positioned in said opening of said re?ector member,
whereby heat radiated and re?ected through said opening
will surround said windshield wiper blade.
55
3. In combination, heating means comprising a gener
ally trough-shaped re?ector member having an opening
length with said wiper blade, a trough-shaped re?ector
having divergent walls on opposite sides of said wiper
blade and forming an opening in register with said wiper
blade, snap-in fasteners in said re?ector and together with
the walls of said re?ector removably receiving said tubular
heating element with each leg of said heater disposed ad
jacent a corresponding longitudinal wall of said re?ector
to radiate and re?ect thermal energy out of said opening,
and retainer means intersecting said wiper blade and said
re?ector at said main frame with said wiper blade posi
tioned between said legs to be surrounded by thermal
energy re?ected and radiated out of said opening.
5. In a heated windshield wiper organization as de?ned
in claim 4,
one leg of said heater having at the free end thereof a
Plug,
said re?ector member having at One end thereof a con
ductor wire extending through said one end and into
said trough,
a plug on the end of said conductor wire,
and a current-continuing means comprising
a line connector having sockets at opposite ends each
receiving one of said plugs to electrically energize
said heater.
6. In a heated windshield wiper organization as de?ned
in claim 5,
said heating element comprising a centrally disposed
electrical resistance wire
supported by a supply of material such as pow
dered magnesium oxide, in turn,
enclosed by a rigid thin-walled tubular hous
mg.
7. In a heated windshield Wiper blade organization
operable in atmospheric conditions including snow and
ice accumulations on a windshield surface, an elongated
trough-shaped re?ector having a bottom wall, diverging
side walls, and an open side, a plurality of longitudinally
spaced brackets each including a generally strip-form
member having a body portion connected to said bottom
wall and a spring arm extending in spaced adjacency to
each corresponding diverging side Wall, each said spring
arm having a recessed retaining portion near one end and
each spring arm being resiliently yieldable to form to
gether with an adjoining side wall of said re?ector a snap
in socket, a sheathed tubular electrical heating element
having an outer diameter sized to be snapped into and
retained by said sockets, and retainer means in said re?ec
extending along the length of one side thereof, a bottom
tor for connection of said re?ector to the frame of a wind
wall extending along the length of the opposite side there
of, and side walls diverging generally outwardly away 60 shield wiper with the squeegee positioned in said open
side, thereby to be surrounded by thermal energy re?ected
from said bottom wall, longitudinally spaced snap fasten
ing means in the trough of said re?ector member, and a
generally tubular heating element removably received in
snap-in assembly in and with said trough by said snap
and radiated out of the open side.
8. In a heated windshield wiper blade organization as
de?ned in claim 7,
said heating element being bent to form two separate
through said opening, said heating element comprising a 65
legs extending coextensively in length with said
centrally disposed electrical resistance wire supported by
squeegee,
a supply of material such as magnesium oxide, in turn,
each leg of said heating element being disposed
enclosed by a rigid thin-walled tubular housing, a wind
adjacent a corresponding diverging side wall.
fastening means to radiate thermal energy outwardly
shield wiper blade in said re?ector member comprising a
9. In a heated windshield wiper blade as de?ned in
frame, retainer means in said re?ector member connected 70 claim 8, one leg of said heater having at the free end
to said frame, and a ?exible squeegee substantially co
thereof a plug, said re?ector having a conductor wire ex
extensive in length with said opening and extending
tending through one end thereof into said trough, a plug
through said opening outwardly of said side walls of said
on the end of said conductor wire, and a current-continu
re?ector member, said windshield wiper being free to 75 ing
means comprising a line connector formed with sockets
7
at opposite ends each receiving one of said plugs to elec
trically energize said heating element.
10. In a heated windshield wiper blade organization as
de?ned in claim 8,
said heating element comprising a centrally disposed
electrical resistance wire
supported by a supply of material such as mag
nesium oxide, in turn,
enclosed by a rigid thin-Walled tubular hous
10
mg.
11. For use as a windshield wiper heater, a trough
shaped re?ector member having a bottom wall and diverg
assembly in said sockets slispaseslradiacent a correspgnd
ing diverging side wall.
12. For use as a windshield wiper heater, the invention
as de?ned in claim 11,
-
i
said bottom wall having a centrally disposed aperture
formed therein,
each said bracket on opposite sides of said aperture
having formed on the ends thereof outwardly of said
recessed retaining portion
a lug for engaging and ‘retaining the frame of a
windshield wiper blade
thereby to position the head member of the windshield
:wiper blade in the aperture and the ‘squeegee of the Wind
ing side walls, ‘a plurality of longitudinally spaced brack
shield wiper blade in the path of thermal energy reflected
ets each including a generally strip form member having
and radiated out of the open side of the trough-shaped
a ibody portion connected to said bottom wall and a spring 15
re?ector.
arm extending in spaced adjacency to a corresponding
diverging side wall, each said spring arm having a recessed
References Cited in the ?le of this patent
retaining portion near one end and being resiliently yield
UNITED STATES PATENTS
able to form with the adjoining side wall a snap-in socket
Osborn ____v__>_‘_ ____ _I___ Sept. 9,
and a generally U-shaped sheathed tubular electrical heat 2° 2,255,393
ing element having two separate legs extending coexten
sively in length with ‘said trough and received in snap-in
‘2,469,791
1941
Schneider ____________
__ May 10, 1949
7
,
‘2,923,022
Theckston _____ __v__..__i___ Feb. 2, 1960